Happy International Women’s Day!

In the 21st century, women are in a more intense struggle than ever: in the fight for general equality, for economic emancipation and equality (equal pay and equal access to labour markets), for recognition of unpaid women’s work, for self-awareness and the ability to say no to any gender-based situation that does not suit them, for institutional support and support in the fight against violence or in the care of children, to get out of oppressive systems based on ideology... And, yes, in the fight for self-love, to accept life in the body of a woman, for sexuality, for the right to fragility and ‘femininity’.

There are a number of films in this year’s ZagrebDox selection that present women as fighters in various of the aforementioned aspects.

For example, Julia & I (Nina Hobert, Sweden, International Competition) deals with identity issues, a portrait of two young women – friends – one of whom is a director and the other a Swedish-Danish artist and poet Julia. Both are struggling with addiction, self-hatred and identity crisis.

In Divas (Máté Kőrösi, Hungary, Regional Competition), a young director ‘peels off layers of makeup’ off three 20-year-olds who can talk for hours about clothes or profile pictures, while during the film they all tread equally towards adulthood, with all its givens.

Cusp (Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt, USA, Teen Dox) too has young women as the main protagonists, three teenagers on the verge of maturity, whom we follow during a lazy Texas summer, in an environment dominated by toxic masculinity.

Sunny (Keti Machavariani, Georgia, The State of Affairs) also deals with identity and self-image. Sunny is a former teacher who now earns a living as a sociological studies interviewer, which is currently her only way to overcome loneliness and achieve a social life. As Sunny introduces us to the streets of Tbilisi, its residents and their views on political and civic issues, Sunny herself is gradually taking on the role of respondent and sharing her dreams with us.

Finally, the story of an empowering change of self-image is told by Anny (Helena Třeštíková, Poland, Controversial Dox). Well-known director Helena Třeštíková observes the decisive moments in the life of a woman from the social margins, who does not cry over unhappy fate. When she needs to earn extra money for her grandchildren, Anny (46) occasionally works as a prostitute. At the same time, she gets acquainted with the organisation Pleasure without Risk, which helps sex workers and even hires them in theatrical performances through which Anny discovers another of her talents.

Sabaya (Hogir Hirori, Iraq, International Competition) is a film about the fight for equal rights and women’s solidarity. We follow Mahmoud, Ziyad and their group risking their lives trying to save as many Yazidi women and girls held by ISIS as Sabaya (sex slaves) in the most dangerous camp in the Middle East, Al-Hol in Syria. Meanwhile, at home, Mahmoud’s wife Siham and his mother Zahra are helping traumatised girls take off their black uniforms of exclusive ideology.

Aya (Simon Coulibaly Gillard, Bulgaria, The State of Affairs) from the island of Lahoua in West Africa is a fighter for her island, in the context of devastating climate change. Joyful and carefree, Aya enjoys picking coconuts and napping on the sand. However, her paradise is doomed to a – literal – flooding. As the waves threaten her home, Aya makes a decision: she will not leave her island.

All of these inspiring women are the best way to say happy International Women’s Day and encourage you to keep being active!